The special election for Queens BP will still happen — some day

Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order cancelling the special election for Queens borough president. But the election will still take place at some point, the Mayor’s Office said. Photo by Ed Reed via Mayoral Photography Office

By David Brand

The nixed special election to pick a new Queens borough president will still take place at some point, the Mayor’s Office said Monday.

Though Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order to “cancel” the special election on March 24, the wording of the order enables him to schedule the contest for a new date.

“The Mayor plans to select a new date for the election soon,” a spokesperson told the Eagle Monday evening.

The city charter mandates that the mayor call a special election to fill a vacancy within 80 days. Acting Borough President Sharon Lee took over for former Queens Borough President Melinda Katz when Katz took office as Queens district attorney on Jan. 1.

Six candidates are running in the nonpartisan special election for Queens borough president: Councilmember Costa Constantinides, former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, retired NYPD sergeant Antony Miranda, former Queens prosecutor Jim Quinn, Councilmember Donovan Richards and tech entrepreneur Dao Yin.

Election attorney Jerry Goldfeder, who is working on Crowley’s campaign, questioned the mayor’s authority to cancel the election in the first place.

“Cancelling or postponing the election by the mayor is, I believe, unprecedented,” Goldfeder said. “The governor has emergency powers to do this — think about 9/11 – but I am unaware municipal officials could do so.”

The Democratic and Republican primaries will take place June 23.